A Novel Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing Using Art and Technology

 A Novel Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing Using Art and Technology

The fusion of art and technology has the power to completely alter how we see wellbeing and mental health. It is obvious that we need to adopt a more proactive approach to resolving these difficulties given that one in eight persons worldwide live with a mental health disorder and that mental health conditions account for a significant portion of years spent with disability. Both alone and in combination, art and technology present fresh approaches to promoting mental health and wellbeing.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of digital technology to promote health has come into greater focus. People from all around the world can now receive guidance and care from home thanks to online programs, tele-health services, stress-reduction apps for smartphones, and e-guides for non-specialists. People and families can now more readily access doctors and other practitioners thanks to the availability of online health services, which also eases concerns about expenses and travel. Online care can assist to remove some healthcare barriers by giving quick feedback, lowering fear and stigma associated with seeking help, and enabling experienced health providers to reach bigger demographic segments, even while it cannot replace the advantages of seeing a doctor in person.

Together with digital technology, art is becoming more and more valued as a tool for promoting mental health and wellbeing. "Art can enable us to emotionally manage the journey of facing an illness or accident, to process tough feelings in times of emergency and stressful situations," according to the World Health Organization. The creation and appreciation of the arts contribute to holistic wellness and can inspire individuals to pursue rehabilitation. It has been demonstrated that incorporating the arts into healthcare delivery supports patients' successful treatment outcomes.

The benefits of integrating movement-based creative expressions and visual art therapy in therapy and research are starting to become clear. Making art has been demonstrated to reduce blood levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and a survey of college students in China conducted during the pandemic revealed that participating in art activities helped them manage their anxiety and develop resilience.

Several institutions are researching the effects of fusing art and technology on health. Art therapists are increasingly using digital technology to provide people with art-making therapies, according to a review of peer-reviewed literature by UK institutions. Meanwhile, research from the University of Vienna found that viewing art online can significantly lower depressive symptoms, anxiety, and loneliness. In-depth research is also being done by the HALE Lab and John Hopkins University to see how virtual reality and art therapy might be combined to address issues including stress, trauma, and dementia.

Murals and other forms of public art can also empower individuals and reduce anxiety. The built environment now has new chances to promote health and wellbeing thanks to digital arts and therapies. The way that art and technology are employed outside of conventional medical services is being disrupted by artists, architects, technologists, and health professionals. These tools may be accessible in metropolitan areas, at work, and at home.

By fusing art, sound, and breathwork, the hOMe meditation art is a web-based application that fosters meditative experiences through digital media. It can be seen privately online, broadcast on screens in public places, and eventually be viewed in the metaverse. Via a collaboration with LinkNYC, hOMe was shown in December 2022 at hundreds of venues throughout New York.

In New York, LinkNYC is replacing old phone booths with contemporary digital communications infrastructure, offering free public Wi-Fi and access to city and NGO services, including mental health support. LinkNYC was founded on the premise that having access to digital connectivity is a fundamental human right. According to LinkNYC, the public watched the hOMe guided breathing exercise and meditation more than 18 million times. This initiative is a potent illustration of how technology and art can work together to promote mental health and wellbeing in public settings.

There are difficulties that must be taken into account even though the fusion of art and technology has immense potential. Making sure everyone has equal access to these resources and services is one of the biggest difficulties. People occasionally might not have access to the internet connectivity or technology needed to take use of digital health tools. In addition, the effectiveness of these interventions may be impacted by a digital divide in terms of age, gender, and socioeconomic class.

Making sure that the use of art and technology in mental health care is clinically beneficial and evidence-based is another challenge. Although there is encouraging research on the advantages of integrating these two domains, more thorough investigations are required to comprehend the precise mechanisms underlying these advantages and to create best practices for implementation.

Finally, it's critical to understand that the demand for qualified mental health care cannot be met by art or technology. Although these methods of support may be helpful in addition to conventional medical care, they shouldn't be viewed as a replacement.

Finally, the marriage of art and technology offers a singular chance to assist mental health and wellbeing in creative and approachable ways. We must look to innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to generate practical answers as we continue to face global concerns relating to mental health. We can create a future where mental health care is more proactive, all-encompassing, and inclusive by combining the power of art and technology.